The Morrison government will formally recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital after a cabinet meeting today, in what will likely be the first step in moving the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv.
It’s understood the decision won’t be properly announced until the COAG meeting tomorrow.
The Australian reports that the decision will be ratified by the cabinet at today’s meeting after the national security committee approved it on Monday night.
However the embassy move is expected to hit a delay. Instead a consular office will be opened in Jerusalem, sources told the publication, due to the cost of the move, pegged at $200 million.
The Trump Administration strongly welcomed Australia’s policy shift after Scott Morrison first flagged it in October, in a move which mirrors Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem earlier this year.
The US move sparked violent protests in the Middle East, resulting in more than 50 deaths in Gaza.
Read the report in The Daily Telegraph.